Youth Rules and Guide
US Lacrosse Rules

A. All youth games are to adhere to all US Lacrosse Rules as stated on pages 75 through page 80 of the 2004 US Lacrosse Official Rules Girls and Women’s Lacrosse.
1. These US Lacrosse rules are not to be modified, changed or challenged in any way.
2. Additions to the US Lacrosse rules can be made according to the league, program and/or age level of the game.
B. Girls youth rules are divided into levels; A, B and C. Specifics of levels are located on page 80 of the 2004 US Lacrosse Official Rules Girls and Women’s Lacrosse.
II. US Lacrosse Equipment Rules
A. Sticks
1. Level A regulation women’s crosse with regulation pocket. See rules PG 76 Under Sticks and PG 4 number 3.
2. Level B regulation women’s crosse with either a regulation pocket and may have a modified pocket. See PG 76 under Sticks.
3. Level C may use a youth stick with mesh or traditional strung crosse and may have a modified pocket.
Modified pocket is one where only half the ball may fall below the bottom of the sidewall. See page 76 under Sticks.
Field stick length is a minimum of 35 ½ to 43 ¼ inches maximum. PG. 4 of US Lacrosse rule book.
Goalie stick length is a minimum of 35 ½ to 48 inches maximum.
B. Mouthguards without protruding tabs are mandatory at ALL LEVELS page 19, D.
1. Please conform them to the player’s mouth and cut away the back portion if too large, but leave enough to cover the back teeth.
2. Please note this is a US Lacrosse rule and is for the protection and safety of the player.
3. Goalies MUST also wear a mouthguard, but it may have a protruding tab.
4. Goalies must wear their uniform shirt OVER their chest protector and it must be the same color as their team and have a number on it, page 17, 7, D.
5. Goalie must wear helmet with face mask, separate throat protector, chest protector, abdominal and pelvic protection, goalie gloves and leg padding on the shins and thighs, page 76.
III. US Lacrosse Coaches Code of Ethics

A. Please review on page 81 the US Lacrosse Coaches Code of Ethics.
B. Also please go to www.positivecoach.org for information on the Positive Coaching Alliance affiliated with US Lacrosse and coaching at the youth level for great information on youth coaching tips and more.
C. Please remember the girls are here to LEARN the basic SKILLS (passing, catching, cradling and defense) of the game and sportsmanship. Practice what you preach.
D. If you are unsure of a certain call or need an explanation of a rule, PLEASE ask the umpire at half time or at the end of the game!!! We want to help you all learn to understand the game and coach better so there are less and less fouls to be called!!!!
A. NO Check/Modified Checking: US Lacrosse Rule pg 65
1. Level A - Modified check - "checking a stick if it is below shoulder level, using a downward motion away from the other player’s body.
a) Clarification to Coaches and Umpires – the check is to the HEAD OF THE STICK not to any other part of the stick. The offensive player’s HEAD OF THE STICK MUST BE at the offensive’s player shoulder height in order for the defense to check.
b) A good guideline to coach for checking –
(i) on ground ball pick ups (player’s stick must be IN CONTACT of the ball to check or empty stick check)
(ii) when a pass is being made and the HEAD of the stick drops below the shoulder height of the offensive player.
2. Level B and C – No Check Rule
The reason for the NO CHECK rule is to work on the basic fundamentals of the game - passing, catching, footwork, proper positioning, and marking before the ADVANCED skill of checking.
Coaches: stick-to-stick contact is not necessarily a violation of the no checking/modified-checking rule:
a) Defender causes attack player to cradle INTO defender’s stick….no violation….attack went into defender.
b) Defender puts her stick up in an attempt to block or intercept a pass and the attacker makes contact while in the act of passing or catching the ball…..no violation.
3. Umpires and Coaches:
a) Level A – when a stick check occurs above the shoulder this a MAJOR foul.
b) Level B & C – when there is a stick check this is a MAJOR foul.
c) Penalty is a free position with the offender 4m behind and everyone 4m away.
B. 3 Second Rule Clarification: US Lacrosse Rule – Must be followed
This is to PROMOTE GOOD DEFENSIVE POSITIONING!!!! This rule is meant to replace checking with a means for players to learn good defensive body, footwork and stick positioning.
1. Level A and Level B
a) No holding the ball for more than 3 seconds when closely guarded/marked (pg.78 definition – ‘Position to Check’ – player has an opportunity to legally check the stick without fouling) and the defense HAS BOTH HANDS ON THE STICK and is in position to legally check if checking WERE allowed.
b) The Umpire MAY give an audible count when the 3 seconds are started. Violation occurs, MINOR FOUL, 4 m away.
c) If the offense adjusts the stick (i.e. cradles) making a legal check impossible the three second count would only start again when the defense adjusts her position to where a legal check could be made, THEN the 3 second count starts again.
2. Level C
a) Everything is the same as stated in Level B above however, ALL FREE POSITIONS are INDIRECT.
b) Restraining Line restrictions: team fouls, pg. 47 of the rulebook, are in effect when 11 field players from each team are on the field.
2. Substitutions are on the fly.  No other players in the substitution area.
3. All players must stand when the whistle blows no matter where they are on the field, including goalie if outside of the crease, players substituting etc. The umpire will direct a player if she needs to move.
4. All play starts and stops with a whistle. Starting before a whistle is a MAJOR foul and loss of possession.
5. If there is a 4-goal difference; the losing team is starting with a free, indirect, position instead of a draw.